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A Quiet Start to the New Year with Osechi Ryori
お節料理とともに始まる静かな新年
Osechi dishes are traditional Japanese foods eaten on New Year’s Day. They are typically served in special stacked boxes called jūbako (重箱), which resemble bentō boxes and are often beautifully lacquered. I don’t own any such elegant containers, so my sister-in-law made do with my everyday tableware.
The origins of osechi date back to the Nara period (710–794) and Heian period (794–1185), when early forms of these dishes were prepared for ceremonies associated with annual imperial events.
During the Muromachi period (1336–1573), osechi dishes became more common among feudal lords and the samurai class. By the Edo period (1603–1868), economic growth, particularly among the merchant class, allowed osechi to spread to townspeople, making it a more familiar part of New Year celebrations.
Today, osechi consists of a variety of traditional foods, each prepared and presented with symbolic meaning. Together, the dishes express wishes for good health, longevity, prosperity, a bountiful harvest, success in life, and financial well-being in the coming year.
Below is a breakdown of what we served on New Year’s Day at our home. While my sister-in-law and father-in-law were familiar with the symbolism of osechi, the sheer number of dishes made it hard to recall every meaning, so we checked several online resources. Interestingly, some of the most complete explanations we could find came from Japan Post (the national postal carrier) and Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Main Osechi Plate
- Buri no teriyaki (鰤の焼き物): Grilled yellowtail, symbolizing success and promotion
- Datemaki (伊達巻): Sweet rolled omelet with fish paste, associated with learning and culture
- Kamaboko (蒲鉾・紅白): Red-and-white fish cake, a symbol of celebration and good fortune
- Kuromame (黒豆): Sweet black soybeans, representing long life and good health
- Kuri kinton (栗きんとん): Mashed sweet potato with chestnuts, symbolizing wealth and prosperity
- Kōhaku namasu (紅白なます): Pickled daikon and carrot, expressing wishes for peace and harmony
- Tazukuri (田作り): Candied dried sardines, traditionally linked to hopes for an abundant harvest
Side Dishes
- Ozōni (お雑煮): New Year’s soup with mochi, carrot, spinach, and shiitake mushroom
- Chikuzen-ni / Nimono (筑前煮): Simmered root vegetables (taro, carrot, lotus root, shiitake, konnyaku, and chicken)
- Kakuni-style simmered pork (豚の角煮風): Braised pork belly served with greens
- Hōjicha / Bancha tea (ほうじ茶・番茶): Served alongside the meal
- Tataki-gobō (たたきごぼう): Pounded burdock root
Decorative/Seasonal Elements
- Nandina berries (南天): Used decoratively and believed to ward off misfortune, adding both beauty and a sense of protection to the home.
- Location: Yokohama, Japan
- Timestamp: New Year’s Day 2026
- Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
- 23 mm ISO 3200 for 1/250 sec. at ƒ/2
- Astia/Soft & Provia film simulations
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